Why Fans And Players Are Calling Out The Treatment Of Serena Williams During The US Open

"It didn’t work out for me, but it’s going to work out for the next person.”

Serena Williams' match against Naomi Osaka on Saturday was historic, but not in the way anyone thought it would be.

By the end of the game, 20-year-old Osaka had won against Williams, making her the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Instead of that being the major news of the night, it was the fact that Williams had gotten into an argument and called chair umpire Carlos Ramos a thief when she was penalized a game.

In the wake of what happened that day, Williams didn't shy away from expressing how she felt she was held against a double standard for trying to defend herself when she was ultimately accused of cheating.

"I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff," she said during her press conference. "For me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He's never taken a game from a man because they said 'thief.' "

The next day, Williams received three code violations totaling $17,000. The code violations included $10,000 for "verbal abuse" towards Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for being coached during the match, and $3,000 for breaking her racket.

This isn't the first time Williams has advocated for and discussed equality in tennis. Last year, she responded to a sexist comment made by player John McEnroe when he referred to her as the "best female player" in tennis and not the "best player" because she would be "700 in the world" if she "competed in the men's circuit."

I ugly cried during Serena & Naomi’s match and took a day to process. Serena was every woman I know standing up for themselves, having to point out misogyny, having to get the job done, and then making sure the woman coming behind you is supported despite the discrimination faced

Top retired tennis players such as James Blake and Billie Jean King — a pioneer and legend for women in the sport — also came to Williams' defense.

(1/2) Several things went very wrong during the @usopen Women’s Finals today. Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn’t, and as a result, a player was penalized for the actions of her coach. This should not happen.

(2/2) When a woman is emotional, she’s “hysterical” and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s “outspoken” & and there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.

I will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized. And I’ve also been given a “soft warning” by the ump where they tell you knock it off or I will have to give you a violation. He should have at least given her that courtesy. Sad to mar a well played final that way. https://t.co/xhBzFZX8Wq

As fans continue to discuss the ways in which Williams is treated as a Black female tennis player, it's evident from Williams' press conference this weekend that maybe what happened to her out on the court might not ever happen to another female player down the line.

"The fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions and that want to express themselves and they want to be a strong woman," she said. "They're going to be allowed to do that because of today. Maybe it didn't work out for me, but it's going to work out for the next person."